Ironing table



ay 15, 1945- G. 'o. MILLER 2,376,165

IRONING TABLE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 latch just prior to latching;

Patented May 15, 1945 I 'IRONING TABLE Guy Othel Miller, Oak Park, 111. Application January 5, 1944, Serial No. 516,996

' My invention relates 4 to ironing tables.

[One ,of the objects of my invention is to provide' an ironing table with improved means for latching the leg elements in extended position.

Further objects, and advantages of the inven- 7 Claims. (01

tion will be apparent from the description and" claims.

In the drawing, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown, I Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ironi table;

' "Fig." 2 is a bottom view of the table in folded condition; g i V i Fig. 3 isa verticalsection substantially on the line 3'-3 of Fig. showing the position of the Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in latched position; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan "view of the construction shown in Figs. 3 and f4.

The ironing table shown in the drawing com-" prises a top I, spaced front and rear leg units 2 and 3 swingably mounted on said top for movement from a folded to an extended position, means for holding said leg units in extended position comprising a brace 4 pivotally secured at one end 5 to said rear leg units 3, a guide 6 mounted underneath said top extending parallel thereto and longitudinally thereof for slidably guiding the other end I pf said brace in the movement of the leg units from open to closed "position and'vice-versapa pivoted follower latch 8 for engagingthe slidable end 7 of the brace 4 for latching the legs in extended position, and a -driven element 9 slidably mounted underneath said top I for engagin "the follower portion of the latch 8 for releasingthe latch.

The rear leg unit comprises a pair of legs pivotally m'ountedat H! on brackets ll secured to 'thelunder side of the top. The axes of these legs are oblique to each other and at such an angle that when folded the legs will lie adjacent and'parallel to the sides of the top and so that when folded their lower ends will'spread out so as to provide a wide base when in position to use.

The front leg unit 2 comprises a U'shaped metal rod. the ends of the arms of which are pivotally mounted on brackets I2 secured to the under side of the top, and the central connecting portion l3 of which provides a foot for the leg which foot may be provided with a suitable cushioning sleeve or pad, if desired.

The front and rear leg units 2 and 3 are relativelybraced and connected so as to move simultaneously in the folding and extending movement of the legs by means of, a pair of connectin links or braces 14, connected at their lower ends l5 to thefront leg and at their upper ends at 5 to an intermediate portion of the rear legs 3. It

will be noted that theseconnecting rods or braces I M are pivoted to thefrontleg so as to lie inside the U-shaped leg unit 2.

Thebrace 4 which supports the log units and holds them in position comprises a U-shaped metal rod, the ,ends of the arms of which are pivotally connected at 5 to the rear legs 3 so as to lie inside of the connecting links to facilitate the folding operation of theflegs. The guide 6 for the end I of the brace 4 comprises a metal strap secured at IE to the lower side of the top and spaced from the top so that themedial con 'necting portion 'lpof the U -sh'aped brace can I slide in the space between the guide 5 and the under side of the top. The latch for engaging and retaining the brace when the legs are swun to their folding extended position comprises a latch member pivotally mounted at IE on a ;ment of the legs. This engagement of the central portion of the brace. with the inclined edges of bracket I'Isecured to the under side of the strap 6. Thelatch member 8 has side flanges embracing the mounting bracket and the end of the guide jst'rap. These side flanges have follower upper'edgesls engaged by the medial portion! ofthe U sha'ped brace 4 in the unfolding move the'flanges will force the latch downwardly until the medial portion of the brace, moves past the latching .edge IQ of the-latching member. For urging the latch member 8 to latching position and enabling the latch member to be released readily when desired, a resilient slidable cam pull. rod 9 is mounted in brackets 20 on the under side of the top. This pull rod 9 base handle or loop 2| for operatin it and a coil compress on spring 22 urging the pull rod forwardly. This pull rod has its forward end 23 bent to extend transversely so as to extend through'two inclined slots 24 in the latch member 3. the bent portion 'tion when the pull rod is released and the compression spring has moved thefpull rod to its forward position, When. as previously descr bed, 1

the-medial part I. of the U-shaped brace 4 cm gages the inclined edges l8 of the latch and lowers the latch to allow the medial portion of the brace to pass to latched position, it has to overcome the spring-resisting action of the resilient pull rod, the resilient end of the pull rod being sprung outwardly about the forward guide bracket as a fulcrum as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the medial portion of the brace has passed the latch, the spring action of the sprung end of the pull rod will snap the latch to latching position as shown in Fig. 4. To release the latch, the pull rod 9 is pulled rearwardly, causing the bent cam portion 23 of the pull rod to slide forwardly along the guide rod and to force the latch to unlatching position by the movement of the bent cam portion 23 of the'rod with the lower edges of the slots 24 in the latch member.

The loop handle 2| may be used for-hanging movement parallel to said top for slidably engaging the follower portion of the latch for releasing the latch, said slidable end engaging an inclined portion of the latch to move it out of the way in moving to latched position, said driver element comprising a resilient laterally springable slide sprung laterally as the latch is moved out of the way and springing back to close the latch when the slidable end has moved to latchable position.

3. An ironing table comprising a top, spaced front and rear'leg units swingably mounted on said top means connecting said leg units for move- -ment in unison from a folded to an extended the table up when in folded condition by slipping the loop over a suspension hook or the like. Also the table can be stood on end when not in use and in folded condition by resting the foot portion l3 on a support and leaningth table up against a sidewall or the like. This keeps the lower end of the table. top up out of contact with the floor.

The rounded edge 25 'of the latch facilitates movement of the slidable end 1 of the brace from in order to prevent any danger of the brace 4 slipping sidewise and causing the connecting portion I to move out of alignment with the guide 6.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore,

that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by. letters Patent is: 1. An ironing table comprising a top, spaced front and rear leg units swingably mounted on J saidv top means connecting said leg units for movement in unison from a foldedto an extended position, means for holding said leg units in extended position comprising a brace pivotally secured at one end to one of saidleg units, a guide mounted underneath said top extending parallel thereto and longitudinally thereof for slidably guiding the other end .of said brace inthe movement of the leg units from open to closed position and vice versa, a pivoted follower latch for engaging the slidable end of the brace for .latching the legs in extendedposition, and a driver element slidably mounted underneath said top for movement parallel to said top for slidably engaging the follower portion of the latch for releasing the latch.

2. An ironing table comprising atop, spaced front and rear leg units swingably mounted .on said top means connecting said leg units for movement in unison from a folded to an extended the legs in extended position, and a driver element slidably mounted underneath said top for position, means for holding said leg units in extended position comprising a brace pivotally secured atone end to one of said leg units, a guide mounted underneath said top extending parallel thereto and longitudinally thereof for slidably guiding the other end of said brace in the movement of the leg units from open. to closed. position and vice versa, a pivoted follower latch for engaging the slidable end of the brace for latching the legs in extended position, anda driver element slidably mounted underneath saidtop for movement longitudinally of the top for slidably engaging an inclined follower portion of the latch for releasing the latch.

4. An ironing table comprising a top, spaced front and rear leg units swingablymounted on said top means connecting said leg units for movement in unison from a folded to an extended position, means for holding said leg units in extended position comprising a brace pivotally secured at one end to one of said leg units, a guide mounted underneath said top extending parallel thereto and longitudinally thereof for slidably guiding the other end of said brace inthe movement of the leg units, from open to closed position and vice versa, a pivoted follower latch for engaging the slidable end of the brace for latching the legs in extended position, and a driver element slidably mounted underneath said top for slidably engaging an inclined portion of the follower latch for releasing the latch, and having a portion supported and guided by said guide.

5. An ironing table comprising a top, spaced front and rear leg units swingably mounted on said top means connecting said leg units for movement in unison from a folded to an extended position, means for holding said leg units inextended position comprising a brace-pivotally secured at one end to one of said leg units, a guide mounted underneath said top extendin parallel thereto and longitudinally thereof for slidably guiding the other end ofsaid brace in the movement of the leg units from open to closedposition and vice versa, a pivoted follower latch for engaging the slidable end of the brace for latching the legs in extended position, and a driver element slidably .mounted underneath said top for movement longitudinally of the-top for slid- .ably engaging an inclined follower portion of the longitudinally of the top for slidably' engaging an inclined follower portion of the latch for releasing the.latch, said'driver element having a pull rod extending longitudinally underneath the table to an accessible position adjacent the rear 'end thereof, said pull rod having a loop portion by which the table may be suspended from asupport in vertical folded position.

7. Anironing table comprising a top, spaced front and rear leg units swingably mounted on I said top means connecting said leg units for movement in unison from a folded to an extended v position, means for holding said leg units in extended position comprising a brace pivotally secured at one end to one of said leg units, a guide I, mounted underneath said top extending parallel thereto and longitudinally thereof for slidably guiding the other end of said brace in the movement of the leg units from open to closed position and vice versa, a pivoted follower latch for engaging the slidable end of the brace for latching the legs in extended position, a driverelement slidably mountduriderneath said top for slidably engaging an inclined follower portion of the latch for releasing the latch; and a spring acting on said slidable driver element to move it to nonreleasing position.

GUY OTHELMILLER. 

